Labeller and method for agricultural bale press

Abstract

A device and a method for attaching a label for identifying a bale to an elongate flexible object, wherein the device comprises storage means for the label and attachment means for attaching the label to the elongate flexible object, and wherein the label, on its edge, has an opening which is adapted to attach the label to the elongate flexible object.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for attaching a label for identifying a bale to an elongate flexible object,
 the device comprising: 
 a store for storing labels, wherein the labels have an edge and are provided with a first opening and a second opening on the edge of the label, such that an edge of the first opening and the second opening coincides with a part of the edge of the label, and wherein the first opening and the second opening are adapted to attach the label to the elongate flexible object, wherein the first opening is laterally spaced from second opening, and wherein the labels are bendable and adapted to clamp the elongate flexible object in the first opening and the second opening under bending stress of the label; 
 an attachment actuator comprising fingers and/or guides adapted to bend the label so that the label can be pushed over the elongate flexible object, and wherein the attachment actuator is configured to bend the label with the fingers and/or guides and push the label in a direction toward the elongate flexible object, over the elongate flexible object or push the elongate flexible object, in a direction toward the label, into the label, to attach the label to the elongate flexible object in such a way that the first opening and the second opening come into contact with the elongate flexible object, such that, when the label has been attached to the elongate flexible object via the first opening and the second opening, the label remains tensioned, under the bending stress of the label, thereby clamping the elongate flexible object in the first opening and the second opening. 
 
     
     
       2. The device according to  claim 1  which furthermore comprises a conveyor belt and/or wheels for transporting the label from the store to the attachment actuator. 
     
     
       3. The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the conveyor belt and/or wheels comprise a structure, pattern, and/or profile for carrying the label along. 
     
     
       4. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device furthermore comprises a separating arrangement for presenting exactly one label of the previously recited labels to the attachment actuator. 
     
     
       5. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the label forms part of a bundle of labels, stored in the store, and wherein the device is configured to release the label from the bundle. 
     
     
       6. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongate flexible object is a twine. 
     
     
       7. The device according to  claim 6 , wherein the twine is attached around the bale. 
     
     
       8. A bale press which comprises the device according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       9. A method for automatically attaching, in a device, a label for identifying a bale to an elongate flexible object,
 wherein the label has an edge and is provided with a first opening and a second opening on the edge of the label, such that an edge of the first opening and the second opening coincides with a part of the edge of the label, wherein the first opening is laterally spaced from second opening, and wherein the label is bendable and configured to clamp the elongate flexible object in the first opening and the second opening under bending stress of the label, the method comprising: 
 storing the label; 
 attaching the label to the elongate flexible object in such a way that the first opening and the second opening on the edge of the label come into contact with the elongate flexible object, by bending the label so that the label can be pushed over the elongate flexible object and by pushing the label, in a direction toward the elongate flexible object, over the elongate flexible object or by pushing the elongate flexible object, in a direction toward the label, into the label, 
 such that when the label has been attached to the elongate flexible object via the first opening and the second opening, the label remains tensioned under the bending stress of the label, thereby clamping the elongate flexible object in the first opening and the second opening. 
 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 9 , furthermore comprising transporting the previously stored label. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 9 , furthermore comprising presenting exactly one label for attachment. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 9 , furthermore comprising releasing the label from a bundle of labels. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the elongate flexible object is a twine. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 13 , furthermore comprising attaching the twine around the bale.